[Culturechat] newspaper article
Johana Thornton
thornton@redrose.net
Wed, 26 Feb 2003 16:10:09 -0500
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As the mother of a naval aviator who has served his country for 18 years =
and is willing to give his life so that you can all have your opinions, =
I would like for you to read this newspaper article that was sent to me.
Subject: Fwd:Article from the Daily Mirror, England
>
>
> > I thought this so appropriate, at a time when we are all a bit
> > unsure about what tomorrow brings and what the future holds, for
all of
> us.
> > To many times I think we take for granted just how fortunate we
really
> are
> > to be Americans!
> >
> > Take the time to read and think about the following article!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Article from the Daily Mirror, England
> >
> >
> > No matter what your views on President Bush's statement of
upcoming
war,
> > this, from an English journalist, is very interesting. For those
of
you
> > not familiar with the UK's Daily Mirror, this is a notoriously
left-wing
> > daily that is normally not supportive of the Colonials across the
> Atlantic.
> > Tony Parsons, Daily Mirror, September 11, 2002
> >
> > ONE year ago, the world witnessed a unique kind of broadcasting --
the
> > mass murder of thousands, live on television. As a lesson in the
> pitiless
> > cruelty of the human race, September 11 was up there, with Pol
Pot's
> > mountain of skulls in Cambodia, or the skeletal bodies stacked
like
> > garbage in the
> > Nazi concentration camps. An unspeakable act so cruel, so
calculated
and
> > so utterly merciless that surely the world could agree on one
thing -
> > nobody deserves this fate. Surely there could be consensus: the
victims
> > were truly innocent, the perpetrators truly evil.
> >
> > But to the world's eternal shame, 9/11 is increasingly seen as
> > America's comeuppance. Incredibly, anti-Americanism has increased
over
> > the last year. There has always been a simmering resentment to the
USA
in
> > this country -- too loud, too rich, too full of themselves and so
much
> > happier
> > than Europeans - but it has become an epidemic. And it seems
incredible
> > to me. More than that, it turns my stomach.
> >
> > America is this country's greatest friend and our staunchest ally.
We
> > are bonded to the US by culture, language and blood. A little over
half
> a
> > century ago, around half a million Americans died for our
freedoms, as
> > well as their own. Have we forgotten so soon? And exactly a year
ago,
> > thousands of ordinary men, women and children -- not just
Americans,
> > but from dozens of countries -- were butchered by a small group of
> > religious fanatics.
> >
> > Are we so quick to betray them?
> >
> > What touched the heart about those who died in the twin towers and
on
> > the planes was that we recognized them. Young fathers and mothers,
> > somebody's son and somebody's daughter, husbands and wives, and
> > children, some unborn. And these people brought it on themselves?
And
> their
> > nation is to blame for their meticulously planned slaughter?
> >
> > These days you don't have to be some dust-encrusted nut job in
Kabul
> > or Karachi or Finsbury Park to see America as the Great Satan. The
> > anti-American alliance is made up of self-loathing liberals who
blame
> > the Americans for every ill in the Third World, and conservatives
> > suffering from power-envy, bitter that the world's only superpower
can
> > do what it likes without having to ask permission.
> >
> > The truth is that America has behaved with enormous restraint
since
> > September 11.
> >
> > Remember, remember.
> >
> > Remember the gut-wrenching tapes of weeping men phoning their
wives to
> > say, "I love you," before they were burned alive.
> >
> > Remember those people leaping to their deaths from the top of
burning
> > skyscrapers. Remember the hundreds of firemen buried alive.
> >
> > Remember the smiling face of that beautiful little girl who was on
one
> > of the planes with her mum.
> >
> > Remember, remember -- and realize that America has never
retaliated
> > for 9/11 in anything like the way it could have.
> >
> > So a few al-Qaeda tourists got locked without a trial n Camp
X-ray?
> > Pass the Kleenex...
> >
> > So some Afghan wedding receptions were shot up after they merrily
> > fired their semi-automatics in a sky full of American planes? A
shame,
> > but maybe next time they should stick to confetti.
> >
> > AMERICA could have turned a large chunk of the world into a
parking
> > lot. That it didn't is a sign of strength. American voices are
already
> > being raised against attacking Iraq - that's what a democracy is
for.
> > How many in the Islamic world will have a minute's silence for the
> > slaughtered innocents of 9/11? How many Islamic leaders will have
the
> guts
> > to say
> > that the mass murder of 9/11 was an abomination?
> >
> > When the news of 9/11 broke on the West Bank, those freedom-loving
> > Palestinians were dancing in the street. America watched all of
that
> > and didn't push the button. We should thank the stars that America
is
> > the most powerful nation in the world. I still find it incredible
that
> 9/11
> > did not provoke all-out war. Not a "war on terrorism." A real war.
> >
> > The fundamentalist dudes are talking about "opening the gates of
> > hell," if America attacks Iraq. Well, America could have opened the
> > gates of hell like you wouldn't believe.
> >
> > The US is the most militarily powerful nation that ever strode the
> > face of the earth. The campaign in Afghanistan may have been less
than
> > perfect and the planned war on Iraq may be misconceived.
> > But don't blame America for not bringing peace and light to these
> > wretched countries. How many democracies are there in the Middle
East,
> > or in the Muslim world? You can count them on the fingers of one
and --
> > assuming you haven't had any chopped off for minor shoplifting.
> >
> > I love America, yet America is hated. I guess that makes me Bush's
> > poodle. But I would rather be a dog in New York City than a Prince
in
> > Riyadh.
> >
> > Above all, America is hated because it is what every country wants
to
> > be -- rich, free, strong, open, optimistic. Not ground down by the
past,
> or
> > religion, or some caste system. America is the best friend this
country
> > ever had and we should start remembering that.
> >
> > Or do you really think the USA is the root of all evil? Tell it to
the
> > loved ones of the men and women who leaped to their death from the
> > burning towers. Tell it to the nursing mothers whose husbands died
on
> one of
> > the hijacked planes, or were ripped apart in a collapsing
skyscraper.
> And
> > tell it to the hundreds of young widows whose husbands worked for
the
> New
> > York Fire Department.
> >
> > To our shame, George Bush gets worse press than Saddam Hussein.
Once
> > we were told that Saddam gassed the Kurds, tortured his own people
and
> > set up rape-camps in Kuwait. Now we are told he likes Quality
Street.
> > Save me the orange center, oh mighty one!
> >
> > Remember, remember, September 11.
> >
> > One of the greatest atrocities in human history was committed
against
> > America.
> >
> > No, do more than remember. Never forget.
> >
> >
>
Jo
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>As the mother of a naval aviator who =
has served his=20
country for 18 years and is willing to give his life so that you can all =
have=20
your opinions, I would like for you to read this newspaper article that =
was sent=20
to me.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Subject: Fwd:Article from the Daily Mirror, =
England<BR>><BR>><BR>>=20
> I thought this so appropriate, at a time when we are all a =
bit<BR>>=20
> unsure about what tomorrow brings and what the future holds,=20
for<BR>all of<BR>> us.<BR>> > To many times I think we =
take for=20
granted just how fortunate we<BR>really<BR>> are<BR>> > =
to be=20
Americans!<BR>> ><BR>> > Take the time to read and =
think about=20
the following article!<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>>=20
><BR>> > Article from the Daily Mirror, England<BR>>=20
><BR>> ><BR>> > No matter what your views on=20
President Bush's statement of<BR>upcoming<BR>war,<BR>> > =
this, from=20
an English journalist, is very interesting. For =
those<BR>of<BR>you<BR>>=20
> not familiar with the UK's Daily Mirror, this is a=20
notoriously<BR>left-wing<BR>> > daily that is normally =
not=20
supportive of the Colonials across the<BR>> Atlantic.<BR>> =
> Tony=20
Parsons, Daily Mirror, September 11, 2002<BR>> ><BR>> =
> =20
ONE year ago, the world witnessed a unique kind of broadcasting=20
--<BR>the<BR>> > mass murder of thousands, live on =
television.=20
As a lesson in the<BR>> pitiless<BR>> > cruelty of =
the=20
human race, September 11 was up there, with Pol<BR>Pot's<BR>>=20
> mountain of skulls in Cambodia, or the skeletal bodies =20
stacked<BR>like<BR>> > garbage in the<BR>> > =
Nazi=20
concentration camps. An unspeakable act so cruel,=20
so<BR>calculated<BR>and<BR>> > so utterly merciless that =
surely the=20
world could agree on one<BR>thing -<BR>> > nobody =
deserves=20
this fate. Surely there could be consensus: the<BR>victims<BR>> =
> were truly innocent, the perpetrators truly =
evil.<BR>>=20
><BR>> > But to the world's eternal shame, 9/11 is =
increasingly=20
seen as<BR>> > America's comeuppance. Incredibly,=20
anti-Americanism has increased<BR>over<BR>> > the last year. =
There=20
has always been a simmering resentment to the<BR>USA<BR>in<BR>> =
> =20
this country -- too loud, too rich, too full of themselves and=20
so<BR>much<BR>> > happier<BR>> > than Europeans - but =
it has=20
become an epidemic. And it seems<BR>incredible<BR>> > to me. =
More=20
than that, it turns my stomach.<BR>> ><BR>> > America =
is=20
this country's greatest friend and our staunchest =
ally.<BR>We<BR>>=20
> are bonded to the US by culture, language and blood. A =
little=20
over<BR>half<BR>> a<BR>> > century ago, around half =
a =20
million Americans died for our<BR>freedoms, as<BR>> > well =
as their=20
own. Have we forgotten so soon? And exactly a year<BR>ago,<BR>> =
> thousands of ordinary men, women and children -- not=20
just<BR>Americans,<BR>> > but from dozens of countries -- =
were =20
butchered by a small group of<BR>> > religious =
fanatics.<BR>>=20
><BR>> > Are we so quick to betray them?<BR>>=20
><BR>> > What touched the heart about those who died in =
the=20
twin towers and<BR>on<BR>> > the planes was that we =
recognized=20
them. Young fathers and mothers,<BR>> > somebody's son =
and=20
somebody's daughter, husbands and wives, and<BR>> > =
children, some=20
unborn. And these people brought it on themselves?<BR>And<BR>> =
their<BR>>=20
> nation is to blame for their meticulously planned =
slaughter?<BR>>=20
><BR>> > These days you don't have to be some=20
dust-encrusted nut job in<BR>Kabul<BR>> > or Karachi =
or =20
Finsbury Park to see America as the Great Satan. The<BR>> > =20
anti-American alliance is made up of self-loathing liberals=20
who<BR>blame<BR>> > the Americans for every ill in the =
Third=20
World, and conservatives<BR>> > suffering from power-envy, =
bitter=20
that the world's only superpower<BR>can<BR>> > do what =
it=20
likes without having to ask permission.<BR>> ><BR>> =
> =20
The truth is that America has behaved with enormous =
restraint<BR>since<BR>>=20
> September 11.<BR>> ><BR>> > Remember,=20
remember.<BR>> ><BR>> > Remember the =
gut-wrenching tapes=20
of weeping men phoning their<BR>wives to<BR>> > say, "I =
love =20
you," before they were burned alive.<BR>> ><BR>> > =20
Remember those people leaping to their deaths from the top=20
of<BR>burning<BR>> > skyscrapers. Remember the =
hundreds of=20
firemen buried alive.<BR>> ><BR>> > Remember the =
smiling=20
face of that beautiful little girl who was on<BR>one<BR>> > =
of the=20
planes with her mum.<BR>> ><BR>> > =
Remember, =20
remember -- and realize that America has never<BR>retaliated<BR>> =
> =20
for 9/11 in anything like the way it could have.<BR>> =
><BR>>=20
> So a few al-Qaeda tourists got locked without a trial n =
Camp<BR>X-ray?<BR>> > Pass the Kleenex...<BR>> =
><BR>>=20
> So some Afghan wedding receptions were shot up after =
they=20
merrily<BR>> > fired their semi-automatics in a sky =
full of=20
American planes? A<BR>shame,<BR>> > but maybe next =
time they=20
should stick to confetti.<BR>> ><BR>> > AMERICA =
could=20
have turned a large chunk of the world into a<BR>parking<BR>> =
> lot.=20
That it didn't is a sign of strength. American voices=20
are<BR>already<BR>> > being raised against attacking =
Iraq -=20
that's what a democracy is<BR>for.<BR>> > How many in =
the =20
Islamic world will have a minute's silence for the<BR>> > =20
slaughtered innocents of 9/11? How many Islamic leaders will=20
have<BR>the<BR>> guts<BR>> > to say<BR>> > that the =
mass=20
murder of 9/11 was an abomination?<BR>> ><BR>> > =
When=20
the news of 9/11 broke on the West Bank, those =
freedom-loving<BR>>=20
> Palestinians were dancing in the street. America =
watched all=20
of<BR>that<BR>> > and didn't push the button. We should =
thank the=20
stars that America<BR>is<BR>> > the most powerful =
nation in=20
the world. I still find it incredible<BR>that<BR>> 9/11<BR>> =
> =20
did not provoke all-out war. Not a "war on terrorism." A real =
war.<BR>>=20
><BR>> > The fundamentalist dudes are talking about =
"opening the=20
gates of<BR>> > hell," if America attacks Iraq. Well, =
America=20
could have opened the<BR>> > gates of hell like you wouldn't =
believe.<BR>> ><BR>> > The US is the most =
militarily =20
powerful nation that ever strode the<BR>> > face of the =
earth. The=20
campaign in Afghanistan may have been less<BR>than<BR>> =
> =20
perfect and the planned war on Iraq may be misconceived.<BR>>=20
> But don't blame America for not bringing peace and light =
to =20
these<BR>> > wretched countries. How many democracies are =
there in=20
the Middle<BR>East,<BR>> > or in the Muslim world? You can =
count=20
them on the fingers of one<BR>and --<BR>> > assuming =
you=20
haven't had any chopped off for minor shoplifting.<BR>> ><BR>>=20
> I love America, yet America is hated. I guess that =
makes me=20
Bush's<BR>> > poodle. But I would rather be a dog in =
New York=20
City than a Prince<BR>in<BR>> > Riyadh.<BR>> ><BR>> =
> Above all, America is hated because it is what every =
country=20
wants<BR>to<BR>> > be -- rich, free, strong, open, =
optimistic. Not=20
ground down by the<BR>past,<BR>> or<BR>> > =
religion, or=20
some caste system. America is the best friend =
this<BR>country<BR>>=20
> ever had and we should start remembering that.<BR>> =
><BR>>=20
> Or do you really think the USA is the root of all evil? =
Tell it=20
to<BR>the<BR>> > loved ones of the men and women who =
leaped to=20
their death from the<BR>> > burning towers. Tell it to =
the=20
nursing mothers whose husbands died<BR>on<BR>> one of<BR>> =
> the=20
hijacked planes, or were ripped apart in a=20
collapsing<BR>skyscraper.<BR>> And<BR>> > tell it to the =
hundreds=20
of young widows whose husbands worked for<BR>the<BR>> =
New<BR>>=20
> York Fire Department.<BR>> ><BR>> > =
To our=20
shame, George Bush gets worse press than Saddam =
Hussein.<BR>Once<BR>>=20
> we were told that Saddam gassed the Kurds, tortured his =
own=20
people<BR>and<BR>> > set up rape-camps in Kuwait. Now we are =
told he=20
likes Quality<BR>Street.<BR>> > Save me the orange center, =
oh mighty=20
one!<BR>> ><BR>> > Remember, remember, September =
11.<BR>> ><BR>> > One of the greatest atrocities =
in=20
human history was committed<BR>against<BR>> > America.<BR>>=20
><BR>> > No, do more than remember. Never =
forget.<BR>>=20
><BR>> ><BR>><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Jo</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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